Amador County – The Amador County Fair Board at its last meeting selected the 2011 fair theme, with a familiar ring: “Dancing with the Steers.”

Amador County Fair Chief Executive Officer Troy Bowers said Tuesday that the new fair theme, and the fair itself will be the general and usual topic, of the fair board’s monthly meetings.

The nine members of the board include five who were announced late at the end of the Schwarzenegger administration as being reappointed. The re-appointees are Laurie Forster, Michael Boitano, Jeanne Deaver, Frank Halvorson, and Janice Howard.

Bowers said the board sets policy, oversees finances and approves the budget and expenditures, that I submit to them for their approval. They also “keep him in line,” he said.

The reappointments at the end of December were in the line of regular happenings for county fairs. Bowers said: “This is the natural lifecycle” of fair board membership, appointments and reappointments.

The positions include no payment and no salaries for these community minded people. The nine-member board, all appointed by the governor, includes Ciro Toma, Chuck Simmons, Robert Manassero and Marilyn Hoopes. Manassero and Hoopes both are in terms that expired Jan. 1.

Bowers said the way it works, board members serve until someone is appointed to the spot. The reappointment by the governor follows application to the positions online, at division of fairs and expositions on the state website. People send in the applications, which are reviewed by the appointment secretary, who will speak to various members of the community about the appointment and then make their decisions.

Bowers said: “We are thrilled,” and we “continue to have what I believe is the best board of any fair in the state of California.”

The board meets the second Thursday of each month at 6 p.m. at the fair administration office. Meetings are open to the public.

Business at the next meeting will include selecting who will be serving as the new board president, and the board will appoint a new president and vice president. Robert Manassero’s two-year term as president has expired, Bowers said.

Fair board appointments are not the highest priority typically for a governor, so the appointments are normally made at the end of a governor’s term.

Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.